Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-30

1Ais .i0y Holo ndue OF superior uol-
tie, these women of the barrens were.
| That spring we had to work a great
deal harder and had less time for fish
ing than before. Doc helped u.s. He
was industrious, though still a weak
ling compared with other lads.
The first time | saw him twirl a
strand of golden love vine over his
head and cast it on the bushes I was
amused. Doc told me that he had
named it Lucy Paxton" and if It
| grew he would know that she loved
him, and if not he would be disap-
| pointed. He was getting too deep for
our philosophy then.
A whole year rolled away, and on
the next spring saw that the love vine
reappeared and grew on the bushes.
Doe saw it too, and he was pleased
greatly pleased. He was not an ar
dent lover. He worshipped at dis
lance. The young fellows who came
home on furloughs were very gallant
| and deferentia1 toward Lucy. This
must have worried Doc, but he never
gave any sign.
Then came that call for men; that
| plucking of the very flower of South
ern chivalry. O, remorseless war
John Paxton was IS, and he must go
to the war and leave his mother and
Lucy to fight the harder battle at home.
| The ssenrolling officer" that agent of
war whose approach was dreaded so
much, he told us that.
When he left Doe followed him out
to the gate. After a short talk the
officer departed after shaking Doc by
the hand.
'1've learned somethin'," he said,
with a radiant face, when he came
back. 1.-The enrolling officer SAYS that
John can stay at home if he can get a
substitute. I'm gw1ne to be his sub
stitute."
Of course John Paxton did not want
to agree to the proposition. 1t looked
unmanly for him to stay and send
little fellow like Doc But the latter
argued, Il amt got nobody to keer
for, an if git hurt nobody'l be the
loser. You've got Mis- Paxton and
and-Lucy," he stammered, "an' you
ought to stay an make the crap. Be
sides, want to git to be a big Gener1
some time, maybe, an then Tll-IIl-
well, | want to go, anyhow, an I'm
gwine as your substitute" And he
went.
Poor little Doe! Friend and play
mate of our childhood. His delicate
form that had been so nourished and
cherished by his doting mother-and
her own-when they brought him
home, wasted with privation and hard
ship. and the hectic fever burned on
his cheeks, he looked very much like
our little old Doc. 1t was springtime
again then. There was a lull in the
wild tempest of war. Bronzed and
bearded our heroes came home.
Bowed with defeat, tattered and torn,
ragged veterans of hundred battles.
There were so many heroic deeds that
the recital of daring achievements
grew commonplace They did not
like to talk about it. Our Doc had
been every inch soldier. He had ac-
quilted himself nobly. He was going
to die, as SO many stronger men had
died, without stain on his fair es-
cutcheon. 1t was Lucy Paxton's hand
that plucked the sweet bouquets which
found their way to his feeble hands.
1t was her mother who sat with our
mother and counted the pulse beats of
our Doc as life was fading fast away
One day he reused himself from his
stupor, and with light in his eyes |
had never seen before, he asked me to
go and see if the Glove vine' had be-
gun growing. | did as he requested,
and found the golden threads entvined
around the low gallberry bushes.
'Is it a-growing," he asked when
came in.
Yes; it is running everywhere" I
answered.
VI knowed it. That's a sure sign.
I'm so glad"
That was the last word he ever ut
tered.
Lucy Paxton is the noble wife of an
honest farmer. She is a good woman,
and she points out little mound in
the old graveyard to her children.
when they go there meeting days, and
they scrape away the green mold and
the lichens, and spell out the letters
on it, t'D-O-C, Doc."-M. III. Folsom
ia atlanta Constitution.